From a sudden thunderstorm to an evening of flash flood warnings, not even the intense weather could halt the festivities of proud Peruvians and Latinos gathered together to celebrate Peru’s Day of Independence. Over the weekend, Reno Public Market hosted a lively event of dancing, music, and authentic Peruvian cuisine, inviting Northern Nevadans to experience an all day celebration, commemorating the country’s declaration of independence from Spanish rule on July 28.
Attendees hit the open dance floor creating a sea of red and white, representing the country’s colors in soccer jerseys and sporting the Peru flag on their backs.
Taking the stage under the vibrant lights was Andy y su Orquesta Callao, a Peruvian singer and band based from the foggy city of San Francisco. Their performance of salsa, cumbia, and other Latin hits brought the crowd to their feet, cheering in celebration, and chanting, “¡Otra! ¡Otra!” to continue the night of dancing. However, it wasn’t a party for just the Latinos. The event drew all members of the community looking to try traditional dishes and be immersed in a new and infectious atmosphere.
Michael Mac Millan, general manager of Reno Public Market, shared the importance of hosting cultural events like this, emphasizing that the public market can’t rise to the title, if they don’t “embrace the whole public.” He said the organization is focused on introducing the Latino culture to the entire community, and offered some words of support to all Latinos in the area.
“We love you, we appreciate your support. Things will get better,” he said.
For Mac Millan, the most rewarding part of the night was being able to bring joy to his peers. One of them being his friend and owner of Cuzco’s Peruvian Cuisine inside the market, Roberto Caballero, who was eager to bring the celebration to Reno.
As the night came to a close, the party continued on the dance floor with classic moves, final photos, and smiles shared among the rest of the guests excited for the next fiesta to make its way into Reno Public Market.